CVE-2018-12844 in Acrobat Reader
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Acrobat and Reader versions 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier have an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
Adobe Acrobat and Reader applications contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that affects multiple version ranges including 2018.011.20063 and earlier, 2017.011.30102 and earlier, and 2015.006.30452 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the handling of malformed PDF files and represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when the software attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests during the parsing of PDF objects where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to craft malicious documents that trigger memory access violations. This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read conditions that can result in information disclosure or system compromise. The technical implementation involves the application's failure to properly validate array indices or buffer limits when processing PDF content streams, particularly affecting the document rendering engine's ability to handle malformed data structures. When exploited, this vulnerability enables attackers to read memory contents that should remain inaccessible, potentially exposing sensitive information such as stack contents, heap data, or other application memory segments. The operational impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as this vulnerability can serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, including privilege escalation or remote code execution depending on the system configuration and memory layout. Attackers typically leverage this flaw by crafting specially constructed PDF files that, when opened by vulnerable versions of Adobe Reader or Acrobat, trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because PDF files are commonly used for document exchange across various industries and can be easily distributed via email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites. According to ATT&CK framework category T1203, this vulnerability could be exploited as part of a broader attack chain involving initial access through malicious documents, followed by information gathering and potential system compromise. The memory disclosure aspect of this vulnerability can reveal critical information including application pointers, stack canaries, or other security-relevant data that could aid in bypassing security mechanisms. Organizations using affected versions should immediately implement patch management procedures to upgrade to patched versions of Adobe Acrobat and Reader, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to enterprise security infrastructure. Additionally, network security controls such as PDF file filtering, email content scanning, and endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block suspicious PDF content until full patches are deployed across all systems. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to mitigate the risk of exploitation through document-based attack vectors.